Kia has announced a new strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics to introduce next-generation IoT solutions for its solutions developed under its Platform Beyond Vehicles strategy. The Platform Beyond Vehicles strategy will more broadly see Kia expand the role of its purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) beyond transportation into customized business solutions that can be integrated into broader digital ecosystems.
Together, the companies jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Kia’s 2025 EV Day in Spain. A signing ceremony was attended by Sangdae Kim, Head of Kia’s PBV Division, and Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President of B2B Integrated Offering Center at Samsung Electronics.
Through their collaboration, Kia will integrate Samsung’s IoT platform, SmartThings Pro, into its PBVs, enabling the wireless control of connected devices and technologies through a ‘Plug & Play’ service. This solution, Kia says, will allow its business customers to integrate and manage IoT-enabled appliances by attaching a smart connector, easing the installation process.
By integrating SmartThings Pro into its PBVs, Kia is looking to enable automated connectivity between vehicles and business spaces. Here, the integration will allow Kia’s B2B customers to configure business routines, activating the appropriate routine based on the destination entered in the PBV’s infotainment system. This, in turn, facilitates the more seamless and secure management and monitoring of external business operations, even on the road.
In addition to the SmartThings Pro integration, Kia and Samsung’s collaboration will extend to planning the development of specialized IoT solutions tailored to the needs of PBV business customers across various industries. This collaboration will initially launch pilot services for small business owners and self-employed customers, before going on to develop IoT product lines specifically for PBVs and bundled solutions tailored to the needs of B2B clients. The companies are also looking to create new business models and extend their services to B2B customers globally.
